Women’s Tennis Hosts UC Irvine in Big West Opener – University of Hawai’i at Manoa Athletics – Hawaii Athletics

In dual match action, Nikola Homolkova leads the Rainbow Wahine with a 2-1 singles record all at No. 3 in the lineup. Against Memphis’ Emily Meyer, Homolkova dropped the first set but battled her way back to win in three. She followed that by clinching UH’s first win of the season over Sacramento State. She held off  Weronika Ejsmont in  a second set tie-breaker to win in straight sets. Fellow returnee

Newcomers Nelly Knezkova and Sheena Masuda also contributed greatly winning both their singles and doubles matches in Hawai’i’s lone win over Sac State. UH’s No. 2, Knezkova is a true freshman from Pague, Czech Republic. She easily swept Maddy Ferreros, 6-2, 6-1 after holding off Lou Baudouin and Irene Riva by a break with doubles partner Ana Vilcek at No. 1. Masuda, a junior transfer from Long Beach State, was leading 5-4 against the Hornets’ Reese Walker when Walker retired giving Masuda her first win as a Rainbow Wahine. Paired with former Beach teammate Homolkova, the ‘Bows led off the match defeating Mayya Gorbnova and Ferreros, 6-3 on the No. 2 doubles court.

UC Irvine comes to Hawai’i after opening the season with a 4-0 loss at No. 21 USC. Last year, the Raibnow Wahine finished their regular season with a sweep on the road at UCI. The following week, the Bows swept the Anteaters again in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Big West Championship.